AN attraction to preserve the legend of Robin Hood should be in Nottingham's city centre, historians and enthusiasts have said.

The Tales of Robin Hood, in Maid Marian Way, has closed because of rent arrears.

A new £10m visitor centre is planned for Sherwood Forest which would feature the legendary outlaw but Bob White, chairman of the World Wide Robin Hood Society, believes this would shift focus too far from Nottingham.

"The problem is that the two key locations are 15 miles apart," Mr White said.

"You would expect the attraction to be at the castle.

"The legend will always survive, Robin Hood was known throughout the world before The Tales of Robin Hood and will be after, but The Tales is dilapidated and has lacked investment.

"The debate over who should fund it has been going round and round for 20 years, it has always come from private enterprise.

"The council is responsible for how much of rate payers' money should go into it and have refused up to now, but there must be a balance where it looks at the value of being connected to the Robin Hood legend.

"The county seems to be getting its act together and the new visitor centre will help, now the city should shape up."

Nottingham Historical and Archaeological Society member, Michael Sakoshansky, said: "There ought to be something in the city, but there is a reluctance with the city council to spend money on preserving history.

"One of our first projects was digging out the caves under the city but the city council has taken a long time over extending the cave system for tourists."

The city council refused to bail out Tales chief executive Ian Walker, despite his calls for the authority to support the attraction.

Previously the city council has supported the annual Robin Hood Pageant, world record attempts to assemble the most people dressed as Robin Hood in one place and the Robin Hood Up Close exhibition, showcasing the BBC series, all of which took place at Nottingham Castle.

This year, the city council will run the Robin Hood Pageant again, is in talks with organisers of the Robin Hood Festival of Running and is supporting the Robin Hood Beer Festival. It is also looking at opportunities associated with the forthcoming Hollywood film about Robin Hood.

But there are no plans to open another themed tourist attraction in the city.

Schools in Nottingham have visited the Tales of Robin Hood for many years.

Jo Bradley, head teacher at Blue Bell Hill Primary School, in St Ann's, said children were taught about Robin Hood and recently held a singing contest with the children to learn the Robin Hood song.

"The children do know about Robin Hood as we often speak about it," she said.

"We haven't been on trips to the Tales of Robin Hood because of cost issues to go there though.

"Instead we usually go to Nottingham Castle or the Galleries of Justice.

"But it is sad if The Tales of Robin Hood closes because people all around the world know about Robin Hood."

Construction on the new visitor centre in Sherwood Forest begins in September and is supported by Experience Nottinghamshire, which promotes tourism in the county.

Helen Sisson, tourism leader at Experience Nottinghamshire, said: "The new £10m visitor centre for Sherwood Forest will provide a visitor attraction which will teach people about the legend of Robin Hood using multi-media technology, alongside a large area for jousting and theatre that will appeal to families and tourists alike. It's not going to be in the city centre but it's something we all want."

City councillors insist that the legend will live on with the help of a specially-appointed team.

Deputy leader Coun Graham Chapman said: "A group will be working together shortly to promote Robin Hood, which will promote tourism and can promote business links abroad, as Robin Hood is known in China and Eastern Europe."

Chief executive of The Tales of Robin Hood Ian Walker was yesterday still holding out hope of a rescue. "We have had more meetings today but cannot say anything more," he said. "There are key stakeholders away on holiday and we will meet again next week."

michael.greenwell@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk